The wear status of a micro-endmill tool may be inferred by monitoring the chip production rate of the tool in operation. Chips may be extracted from a work area, captured on an adhesive surface, imaged, and counted to determine the chip production rate. When the rate of chip production falls, the feed rate of the micro-endmill may be increased to a level suitable for the current state of tool wear. In this manner, costly and inconvenient work stoppages to evaluate the wear status of a tool are eliminated.

A tool head having a main body (2) that is rotatable about a tool head axis (5), a slide (6) for holding a cutting tool, the slide (6) being guided on the main body (2) in a slide guide (8) in a linearly moveable manner transversely to the tool head axis (5), and a clamping device (48) for clamping the slide (6) on the main body (2). The clamping device (48) has a clamping body (50) that is adjustable parallel to the tool head axis (5), the clamping body (50), in a clamping position, pressing a sliding face (46) of the slide (6) against a guiding surface (44) of the slide guide (8) with a clamping force (F.sub.N) being introduced.

A drill bit includes a shank, a transition portion, and a body portion defining a plurality of axially stacked, progressively sized steps. The steps include a first step and a terminal step coupled to the transition portion. The first step defines two tip flutes each disposed at a tip flute angle. The body portion defines two body flutes each extending from the first step to the transition portion and disposed at a body flute angle different from the tip flute angle. The drill bit includes a bit tip disposed at the distal end of the body portion and having a chisel edge, a first chisel surface on one side of the chisel edge, and a second chisel surface on an opposite side of the chisel edge. The first chisel surface defines a first relief angle. The second chisel surface defines a second relief angle different from the first relief angle.

The different advantageous embodiments may provide an apparatus comprising a vision system, a drilling tool, and a system controller. The vision system may be configured to generate data about a number of laser signatures on a surface of a workpiece. The drilling tool may be configured to drill a number of holes in the surface of the workpiece. The system controller may be configured to generate drilling instructions for the drilling tool using the data generated by the vision system.

A drilling system is provided for drilling a workpiece. The drilling system includes a pattern generator configured to apply a pattern on a workpiece surface of the workpiece at a reference location relative to a target drilling location. The drilling system includes a drilling end effector, which includes a chuck configured to hold a drilling tool. The drilling end effector also includes a nosepiece configured to at least partially surround the drilling tool when the drilling tool is held by the chuck. The nosepiece includes an end portion that is configured to be held on the workpiece surface of the workpiece. The drilling end effector also includes a camera configured to acquire an image of an area of the workpiece surface that includes the pattern. The image acquired by the camera indicates whether the end portion of the nosepiece is aligned with the pattern on the workpiece surface.

A method for operating an electric core drilling machine, in particular a magnetic core drilling machine, comprising the steps: identification of a core drill bit detachably connected to the core drilling machine, by means of an information carrier associated with the core drill bit and an information receiver associated with the core drilling machine; detection of a load quantity of the core drill bit; determination of a wear value of the core drill bit on the basis of the value of the load quantity; issuance of an error value when the wear value exceeds a wear limit value; as well as issuance of a signal to indicate the necessity of replacing and/or repairing the core drill bit. In addition, the invention relates to a core drilling machine and a core drill bit for carrying out the method.

A drilling system is provided for drilling a workpiece. The drilling system includes a pattern generator configured to apply a pattern on a workpiece surface of the workpiece at a reference location relative to a target drilling location. The drilling system includes a drilling end effector, which includes a chuck configured to hold a drilling tool. The drilling end effector also includes a nosepiece configured to at least partially surround the drilling tool when the drilling tool is held by the chuck. The nosepiece includes an end portion that is configured to be held on the workpiece surface of the workpiece. The drilling end effector also includes a camera configured to acquire an image of an area of the workpiece surface that includes the pattern. The image acquired by the camera indicates whether the end portion of the nosepiece is aligned with the pattern on the workpiece surface.

A method for operating an electric core drilling machine, in particular a magnetic core drilling machine, comprising the steps: identification of a core drill bit detachably connected to the core drilling machine, by means of an information carrier associated with the core drill bit and an information receiver associated with the core drilling machine; detection of a load quantity of the core drill bit; determination of a wear value of the core drill bit on the basis of the value of the load quantity; issuance of an error value when the wear value exceeds a wear limit value; as well as issuance of a signal to indicate the necessity of replacing and/or repairing the core drill bit. In addition, the invention relates to a core drilling machine and a core drill bit for carrying out the method.

A powered high-speed cutting tool that also locates objects behind sheet material and subsequently cuts around the object. The tool incorporates at least one sensor having a transceiver emitting a signal to detect at least one from the group of object density, conductivity, distance, and identification. The sensor is housed within a sensor unit that is part of the body of the cutting tool. The sensor unit can be incorporated into the body or removable from the cutting tool. A marking unit is used to mark the cutting area of the sheet material and is generally part of or located near a sensor unit. Indicator members, such as lights, audio, and/or display screen, are used to provide information to the user.